The boys varsity squash team was among the most successful of the winter sport teams, boasting an impressive 12-1 record. The team this season was also able to walk away with a hard-earned New England Class C Championship win.
The team was strong this season, equipped with numerous returning players who had experience playing at the competitive varsity level. “Not only were we a very strong team this year, winning nearly all of our matches, but we also had some great moments as a team and developed a strong bond with each other from the start,” senior Co-captain Henry Pelletier said.
While the team was set up to find success from the beginning, not every match was a guaranteed win. They had some nail-biters but were ultimately able to pull out well deserved wins. Their match against Greens Farms Academy was among one of the best. “A standout match this year was our win against Greens Farms on senior day,” Pelletier said. “It was a hard fight, but we ended up winning 4-3 for our seniors’ final home match.” Greens Farms was one of the tougher opponents the boys would face, so a win against them, especially on Senior Day, meant a lot for the team.
Their hard work paid off in the end as the team was able to walk away with a hard-fought Class C championship win. In order to qualify for Class C, the team had to beat teams who were below them in the original rankings, “To solidify our place as the number one seed in Class C, we had already beaten strong teams such as Avon Old Farms, Westminster, and Loomis earlier in the season.” Pelletier said.
The team traveled to Portsmouth Abbey to compete in the New England Class C Championship, and fought hard the whole way through. Though the championship was a team effort, there were players who stood above the rest, adding vital wins to the teams records. “In my opinion, the standout players were [senior] Carter Smith and [freshman] Jack Krieble, who each won all of their matches and allowed us to win the tournament in the long run.” Pelletier said.
After their impressive New England Championship win, the team traveled to Philadelphia to compete in high school Nationals. Nationals are the biggest tournament in squash, with 169 teams competing across five different venues in and around Philadelphia. Each team was set to play one to two matches per day from Friday, Feb. 25, to Sunday, Feb. 27.
“Nationals in Philadelphia was an unforgettable experience in which we were able to play at University of Pennsylvania’s massive squash facility, while exploring the city in our free time.” Pelletier said. The team was able to compete against opponents who they had never competed against before, which was a beneficial opportunity for the players to improve their skills.
Looking forward to next year, the team will be losing eight talented senior players, leaving behind a very young but promising team next year. “With practice, the team could be solid, but it should be more of a rebuilding year for KO squash,” Pelletier said. “In a couple years, the team will once again be a force to reckon with.” Until then, the team looks to build off of this successful season and work toward another championship in the near future.
